Viral Gaza Boy Allegedly Killed By IDF Apparently Found Alive With His Mother

An 8-year-old Gaza boy whose story went viral after a U.S. contractor claimed Israeli troops shot him dead in May was reportedly found alive Thursday with his mother and moved to a safe location, according to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and a video interview published the same day.

GHF identified the child as Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamden, known as “Abboud,” and said a weeks-long search ended when the pair arrived at a secure distribution site on Aug. 23; the group then extracted them on Thursday, Fox News reported. The case drew global attention after former GHF subcontractor Anthony Aguilar alleged on television that the boy — whom he called “Amir” — was gunned down by Israel near a GHF aid post on May 28. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Trump Acknowledges Israel Is Losing Control Of Congress)

“When a child’s life is at stake, facts must matter more than headlines,” GHF Executive Chair Johnnie Moore told the outlet.

GHF told Fox News Digital it verified identities using facial-recognition matches to Aguilar’s images and additional biometrics, and released footage of Abboud playfully interacting with staff after arriving with his mother at Secure Distribution Site 3. The boy’s mother, Najlaa, appears with him in the video interview.

“Outside the Gaza Strip is nice,” Abboud said in the on-camera exchange.

A GHF spokesman said the family’s whereabouts will remain undisclosed “for their safety and security.” Najlaa said her wish for her son’s future is that he be “at ease.”

Aguilar, a retired Green Beret who worked for UG Solutions, has repeated his claim across outlets. He described the child thanking him for food before running off and, moments later, being shot; in another interview he said, “Shot to the torso, a shot to the leg — dead.” Aguilar has variously located the alleged shooting near different GHF sites in separate media appearances.

Israeli and regional outlets also reported the boy is alive and was extracted with his mother, citing GHF.

Moore credited U.S. veterans working with GHF for finding the family and faulted outlets and activists who “were quick to spread unverified claims.”